As a computer education teacher, one of the questions I get asked all the time is: “Why does my computer take so long to start up?” Whether it’s students trying to log in at the beginning of class or parents frustrated at home, the struggle is real.
The good news is, you don’t need a brand-new machine—or a computer science degree—to fix it. In this post, I’m sharing the same five quick fixes I’ve taught my students (and used myself) to speed up PC startup without spending a dime. These steps are easy, effective, and best of all, beginner-friendly.
This is always the first thing I show students. Most people don’t realize that every time they install a program, it may quietly add itself to the startup list. Over time, your computer is trying to launch 15 or 20 programs the moment you turn it on.
If you’re unsure which programs to disable, just remember: if you don’t recognize it, don’t remove it. But things like Spotify, Zoom, or Adobe Updater? Definitely fair game. For more details, check out Microsoft’s official guide.
Cutting back your startup list is one of the fastest ways to speed up PC startup. You’ll feel the difference right away.
Here’s a tip most people don’t even know exists. If you’re running Windows 10 or 11, there’s a setting called Fast Startup that blends shutdown with hibernation. It saves part of your system state so your computer boots quicker next time.
This doesn’t work with restarts—just shutdowns—but it’s a simple tweak that can shave 10 to 20 seconds off your boot time. One warning: if you’re using older hardware or dual-booting with Linux, test carefully. But for most of my students and colleagues, this tip works like magic to speed up PC startup.
Ever notice your brand-new laptop already has 20 apps you didn’t ask for? That’s bloatware. These programs come preinstalled by manufacturers and run quietly in the background—slowing everything down, especially startup.
I recommend using tools like Revo Uninstaller or PC Decrapifier for a deep clean. These remove hidden files that regular uninstalls leave behind. Less clutter = faster boot time.
If you want to go a step further, open Task Manager and sort by CPU or memory usage. Any resource hogs that don’t need to run in the background? Remove or disable them. Again, it’s a great way to speed up PC startup and improve overall performance.
Advanced tip—but totally doable if you go slow. A lot of programs (like printer software or media players) sneak background services into your system that launch at startup.
If you’re comfortable exploring a little deeper:
msconfig.This one can really help speed up PC startup—but don’t uncheck anything unless you’re sure. When I teach this in class, I always remind students to Google unfamiliar services before disabling them.
If your computer still uses a traditional hard drive (HDD), this is hands-down the most powerful upgrade you can make. It’s night and day. I’ve had students replace their HDDs with SSDs and go from 3-minute startups to 15 seconds.
Here’s why SSDs are amazing:
Most modern laptops support SSDs, and even older desktops can be upgraded with a 2.5″ SATA SSD. Not sure how to do it? Here’s a great walkthrough from How-To Geek.
If budget allows, this is the fix that delivers the biggest impact. I’ve helped upgrade classroom PCs on a tight budget with SSDs—and the speed difference was unbelievable.
Here are a few quick extras I recommend to students and colleagues alike:
If you’ve been putting up with slow boot times, it’s time to take control. These five tips—many of which I teach my own students—can dramatically speed up PC startup without advanced skills or fancy tools.
Start simple: disable startup apps, enable Fast Startup, and uninstall junk. Then, if you’re ready, try diving into services or upgrading to an SSD. Every small step you take adds up to a smoother, faster computer.
Thanks for reading! If you found this helpful, consider subscribing to TechSparked.com where I share simple, hands-on tips to help everyday users and classrooms thrive with technology.
